The architect, interior designer and decorative painter Vincenzo Brenna was invited to St. Petersburg by the future Tsar Paul I in late 1783 or early 1784, initially as assistant to Charles Cameron, and was later the chief court architect, leaving Russia in 1802. The present work, with a portrait dedication to Paul I drawn and engraved by Salvatore Cardelli, is undated but a post quem date of 1799 is supplied by the caption to plate [1] which depicts an obelisk 'Inventé et exécuté en 1799. par Brenna Architecte ...'. Plate [6] is formed of two plates joined together. Most of the plates have captions in French and Russian.

Copy Notes Sold at Christie's John Sanders sale (q.v.), where it formed lot 86 on the third day, and bought by Soane from Thomas Boone for £2 12s. 6d., 19 April 1826. (Spiers Box). John Sanders (1768--1826) was Soane's first pupil, entering his office in 1784 and leaving in 1790. Former library shelfmark (?) in ink on upper cover in the form 3 / 86 / [illegible].

Binding C19th marbled-paper, without spine-label or lettering.

Reference Number 5593

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